Forming Interdisciplinary Research Centers

Academic, discipline-based research is key to the university's
mission. Interdisciplinary research centers expand on that mission
by addressing social issues and new learning from multiple
perspectives.

UB's interdisciplinary research centers are usually created
through faculty interest or in response to external funding
opportunities. Designed to focus on specific challenges, these
centers generally cease activities when the objectives are met.

Policies for creating new interdisciplinary centers

This OVPRED policy guides UB interdisciplinary research centers
that a) plan to receive university support; b) whose members span
at least two schools; and, c) have research as their primary
mission. Centers and institutes that report to the Provost are
excluded from this policy.

Approval Process for Funding by the OVPRED

The Vice President for Research and Economic Development (VPRED)
will review proposals for funding UB research centers on advice
from the deans, UB faculty and other experts. The VPRED may approve
the funding of the centers or recommend changes in the name, scope
or other aspects of the proposed centers. The proposal will contain
information about the organization, administration and governance
structure and include:

New UB research centers will be initially funded for a
three-year period. Centers will be assigned a designated
administrator (e.g., dean, associate dean for research or senior
member of OVPRED staff) responsible for allocating resources to the
center and ensuring its success. Annual reviews of new UB research
centers are conducted by a designated administrator (e.g., dean,
associate dean for research or senior OVPRED staff member). This
individual is responsible for allocating resources to the research
center and making sure that it's generating sufficient external
funding to become self-supporting. The designated administrator
will then provide a written evaluation to the center director and
vice president for research and economic development. While funding
to new centers is limited to three years of initial support, in
rare cases it may be extended when centers can demonstrate
significant growth in obtaining their external funding.

Operating a funded research center

Once a UB research center is approved for funding, the operating
guidelines outlined in the proposal should be approved by the
center members and the designated administrator. The guidelines
should include:

Rules of internal governance

Membership criteria

Identification of an external advisory group

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic
Development will then allocate resources to the center director for
support of its research programs.

Request for continuing support

UB, like other universities, has limited resources, which means
there are difficult decisions when choosing which centers to fund.
Moreover, centers are not intended to have an indefinite
institutional life. Existing and newly designated UB centers
("ORU's") will be reviewed in terms of ongoing funding.

The review will consist of two phases. Phase I will involve a
review of a written status report submitted by the center director.
The status report should contain the following information:

This document will be reviewed by ad hoc advisers contacted by
the VPRED. In Phase II the center director and participating
faculty will make an oral presentation highlighting their missions,
goals, external funding and progress. The VP for Research and
Economic Development will submit a written evaluation of the center
to the center's director. It will include a recommendation to
continue or phase-out funding for the center. The final decision
will be made jointly by the involved deans, the VP for Research and
Economic Development and the provost.